Growth and development of foals

Growth and development of foals

1. Prenatal (intra-uterin) growth

2. Postnatal (doğum sonrası) growth

 A newborn foal has completed 60% of the bone development, but only 10% of the body weight compared to the adult period.

 The growth rate of the foals in the early stages of life is very high. The foals can reach twice the birth weight at the age of 6-8 weeks.

Growth and development of foals



Birth weight



The factors affecting birth weight



Breed



Mare live weight



Foal gender



Mare age



Gestation period



Nutrition

1. Prenatal growth 2. Postnatal growth



Breed



Birth weight



Foal gender



Mare age



Mare milk production



Nutrition

Growth and development of foals

• 6-8 hafta : The live weight reaches twice the birth weight.

• 6. Month (Weaning age) : The live weight reaches 40% of the adult live weight.

• 1 Year : The live weight reaches 60% of the adult live weight.

• 2 Year : The live weight reaches 80% of the adult live weight.

• 3 Year : The live weight reaches 90% of the adult live weight.

Growth of Arabian and Thoroughbred foals

Figure: Arabian mares with foals on the grassland

Morphological evaluation of horses

HORSE RACING AND HORSE RACING AND

ORGANISATION

ORGANISATION

 Importance of horse racing

 Racing type

 Flat racing for Arabian horses

 Flat racing for Thoroughbred horses